For the past two or three years, I have been making my own flatbread at home.
What started as something I simply wanted to try has slowly become part of my everyday life.
These days, I actually prefer making my own flatbread instead of buying bread from the supermarket.
People often ask me why I bother making it myself.
The answer is actually very simple.
It's healthier.
It's cheaper.
It tastes better.
And perhaps most importantly, I know exactly what goes into it.
There are no unnecessary preservatives or ingredients that I can't pronounce.
Just simple ingredients that I choose myself.
Growing up, making dough wasn't completely new to me.
As a child, I watched Surinamese-Hindustani dishes like roti being made, so I already understood the basics of working with dough.
That experience definitely helped me.
The flatbread I make today isn't a traditional loaf of bread.
It's somewhere between Indian naan, Surinamese roti and Moroccan flatbread.
That combination suits my cooking style perfectly because I love making dishes from all three cuisines.
One of the things I enjoy most is how simple the whole process is.
I use a dough machine because it saves me time and makes the process even easier.
Of course, you can easily make the dough by hand if you don't have a machine.
Either way, it isn't difficult.
From start to finish, including letting the dough rest, it usually takes me about one and a half to two hours.
Most of that time is simply waiting for the dough to rise, so you can easily do other things while you wait.
After that, I divide the dough into small balls, roll them into thin circles and cook them in a hot frying pan.
Watching the dough cook and smelling fresh flatbread filling my kitchen never gets old.
I also like the fact that I only make what I need.
Instead of buying bread that may sit in the cupboard for days, I can enjoy fresh homemade flatbread whenever I want.
Sometimes I make enough for one day.
Sometimes for two.
Nothing goes to waste.
Another reason I enjoy making my own flatbread is that it reminds me that healthy eating doesn't have to be complicated.
People often think healthy food has to be expensive or difficult to prepare.
I don't believe that.
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the most satisfying.
Making my own flatbread has become one of those small habits that I genuinely enjoy.
It tastes amazing, it fits perfectly with the meals I love to cook, and it gives me the satisfaction of creating something myself.
Will I ever stop buying bread from the supermarket completely?
Probably not.
There will always be days when convenience wins.
But whenever I have a little extra time, you'll probably find me standing in the kitchen, rolling out fresh dough and filling my home with the smell of homemade flatbread.
And honestly…
I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you'd like to learn exactly how I make my flatbread, let me know.
I'd love to share my recipe in a future blog post.
Love,
Shavida
